12th Annual Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition

Shakespeare in the Vines is proud to bring back our Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition for SoCal high-school-aged students.

High school students from all over Southern California are welcome to submit videos to compete, dwindling down to the final 15 who will compete in person to win Scholarships up to $1,000.00!

The Finals will take place on Monday, April 20th, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Friends, Family, and Community Members are encouraged to attend.

This FREE EVENT is co-sponsored by the Temecula Theater Foundation.

Full Details & Rules are below.

Click Here To Register

DETAILS:

Shakespeare in the Vines, the Temecula Theater Foundation, and the Old Town Temecula Community Theater invite all Southern California high schools, high-school-aged homeschoolers, and others to take part in the 12th Annual High School Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition.

To participate, high-school-aged students must submit a video of them performing two contrasting Shakespearean monologues of their choosing (one humorous, one serious). There will be various rounds online, dwindling down to the final 15 students who will be invited to perform their monologues in-person at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

A final panel of judges will select winners to receive cash prize scholarships:

  • First Place = $1,000

  • Second Place = $500

  • Third Place = $300

  • Fourth Place = $200

    All finalists will receive a certificate of participation.

RULES:

  • Please record yourself performing, from memory, two contrasting Shakespeare monologues. One monologue should be humorous/comedic, and one should be serious/dramatic. Shakespeare’s Sonnets are allowed.

  • Each competitor will introduce their performance in the video (and at finals) by stating their name and monologue titles. For example: “I am Jane Smith and I will be performing Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet, and Beatrice, from Much Ado About Nothing.”

  • Please do not mention your school’s name.

  • The student’s introduction plus the two speeches together must not exceed five minutes.

  • When recording: Please film in landscape from the waist up, in front of a solid backdrop or wall, and no sound interference. Props and costumes are not allowed in the videos or finals. Please perform in formal casual attire.

  • Video must be uploaded to YouTube in a private page link and the link shared in your registration form.

  • All videos and forms must be submitted by Wednesday, March 25th at 11:59pm. No late entries will be admitted.

  • A teacher, parent, or staff member from the high school must sponsor each competitor. The sponsor must attend the event with the student should they be in the final group.

  • Students may receive coaching/directing help from any source.

  • Monologues must be from the Shakespeare canon, not adapted from another source.

  • The competition will consist of multiple rounds online, leading to the final 15 who will compete, in-person, on Monday, April 20th at 6pm at The Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

    Finals:

  • Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. Competition begins promptly at 6:00 p.m and ends around 8:00pm. After the awards ceremony, publicity photos of all finalists will be taken.

The finals will be held at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, located at 42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590

For more information or any questions, please email us at Monologuecomp@shakespeareinthevines.org

All videos and forms must be received by Wednesday, March 20th, 2026 at 11:59pm.